CHAPTER 30 – BATTLE OF THE BRETHREN

©OPEYEMI AKINTUNDE
AS INSPIRED BY THE CREATIVE ONE

The Banquet of the Broken

Let me just say, if grace had a party, it would look like this.

We called it “The Banquet of the Broken.”

A thanksgiving service like no other.

No color code.
No special guest ministers.
Just an open invite to anyone who had ever fallen, healed, or risen again.

You needed no title … only a testimony.

Flyers were simple:

“Come as you are. Leave as you’re becoming.”

And church? E full.

Even old members that left during the “T.J. scandal season” came back quietly.
Some sat at the back.
Some stood outside.

Everyone… came hungry.
Not for jollof rice.

But for a fresh slice of redemption.

The altar was decorated with torn robes stitched back together. Symbolic. That even though we broke …we didn’t stay broken.

Edna opened the event with a spoken word:

“I sang my pain into silence.
But Jesus heard the off-key cry beneath my melody.”

Hmm… everywhere.

Then Sister Modupe … remember the one that once said T.J. was “a silent Jezebel”? …
Yeah, she came up , hugged T.J. publicly, and said:

“I’m sorry I mistook light for lightning.”

What a line.

But it was during the choir ministration that it happened. T.J was leading.

The room was charged.

Voices raised.
Drums in sync.
Hands lifted.

Then I noticed him…walking in slowly from the main entrance.

Black kaftan.Face humbled.Eyes searching.

Pastor Dan.

Yes, him.
The same Pastor Dan who once called T.J. “a glorified distraction.”

He had gone underground after everything blew up.

Now?

He was back.

Unannounced.
Unarmed.
Unapplauded.

He walked to the front with others who were touched by the ministration.

Kneeling quietly beside the pulpit.

No drama.

Just a soft cry:

“Jesus… I miss you.”
Nobody dragged him up.
Nobody asked him for statements.

We just let the man cry.

Then T.J. did something only kingdom-minded people can do.

She took the mic to him.

And said:
“You once tried to shut my voice.
But today, I lend it to you…to say whatever the Spirit puts in your mouth.”

The crowd gasped.

Dan stood up slowly…Held the mic.

Paused.

Then whispered:
“I was a gatekeeper who locked out revival because it didn’t look like me. I let envy preach louder than the Word. But today, I return… not as a pastor….Just as a prodigal.”

And the hall?

Tongues mixed with Applause…
We were no longer just a church.

We were a family, restored.

Grace be like what?

Grace be like say the same church that once split over scandal, now kneels together at the same altar… holding hands.
(Grace is when the enemy planned division, but God turned it into a reunion service.)

After the service, someone asked me:

“Mabel, what just happened?”

I smiled and said:
“We didn’t just have thanksgiving….We hosted the Holy Ghost.”

To be continued… ( TO PAY FOR THE THE FULL ACCESS TO THE E-COPY of this Story, Kindly Chat +234-9069926797 to pre-order your copy)

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